Torenia plant named SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a Torenia plant has large flowers, moderate purplish pink upper petal with vivid reddish purple bilabiate petal without yellow blotches and vivid reddish purple floral tube. The plant has semi-erect growth habit, medium branching and great profusion of blooms. The whole bush remains in bloom for a considerable period of time. The plant grows and has flowers ordinarily in the shade of trees.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

[0001] The present innovation relates to a new and distinct variety ofTorenia plant obtained from artificial doubling of ‘SUNRENIPIHO’ (theSeeds and Seedlings Law Registration No. 7512; U.S. Pat. No. PLANT10118).

[0002] In September 1999, the cuttings of ‘SUNRENIPIHO’ were treatedwith 0.1% colchicines solution, which were propagated by cutting on thepeat at Omi R&D Center, Suntory Flowers Ltd. residing at 863-1,Aza-Iketani, Omori-cho, Youkaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. After twomonths, some survived plantlets were transplanted in pots. In December1998, colchiploids were obtained from the selection. The discoveredTorenia plant was propagated by cutting and then grown in bed and pot ontrial. The botanical characteristics of the plant were examined usingthe parent variety ‘SUNRENIPIHO’ and the similar variety ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this discoveredTorenia plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existenceis known to us, sufficiently uniform and stable in its characteristics.Then this new variety of Torenia plant was named ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

[0003] The new variety of torenia plant named ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ haslarge flowers, moderate purplish pink upper petal with vivid reddishpurple bilabiate petal without yellow blotches and vivid reddish purplefloral tube. The plant has semi-erect growth habit, medium branching andgreat profusion of blooms. The whole bush remains in bloom for aconsiderable period of time. The plant grows and has flowers ordinarilyin the shade of trees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a photograph giving a partial view of the new variety oftorenia plant planted in a flowerpot.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a photograph of a flower of the new variety of toreniaplant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

[0006] ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ has semi-erect growth habit. The plant heightis 15 cm with medium branching. Diameter of stem is 2.5 mm. Anthocyaninpigmentation of stem is moderate. Internode length is 5.0 cm. The shapeof blade is lanceolate with acute serration. Length of leaf is 3.5 cmand width is 3.0 cm. Pubescence is sparse. Inflorescence is axillary.Diameter of flower is 30 mm and length is 35 mm. The color of upperpetal is pale purplish pink (R.H.S. No. 69D, J.H.S. No. 9501). The sideof bilabiate petal has vivid purplish red (R.H.S. No. N80A, J.H.S. No.8906). The bottom of bilabiate petal has vivid purplish red (R.H.S. No.N80A, J.H.S. No. 8906) color and pale purplish pink (R.H.S. No. 69D,J.H.S. No. 9501) center. The color of flower tube is vivid purplish red(R.H.S. No. N80A, J.H.S. No. 8906). Calyx length is 18 mm, andanthocyanin pigmentation of calyx is medium. Peduncle is 2.0 cm inlength, 1.5 mm in thickness. Flowering duration is medium. Floweringperiod is from June to November around Kansai district of Japan.

[0007] Plant:

[0008]Growth habit.—Semi-erect.

[0009]Plant height.—15 cm.

[0010] Stem:

[0011]Diameter.—2.5 mm.

[0012]Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Medium.

[0013]Branching.—Medium.

[0014]Pubescence.—Sparse.

[0015]Length of internode.—5.0 cm.

[0016] Leaf:

[0017]Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.

[0018]Length.—3.5 cm.

[0019]Width.—3.0 cm.

[0020]Color. (upper side).—R.H.S. 147A.

[0021]Pubescence of upper side.—Sparse.

[0022]Thickness of petiole.—Medium.(1.5 mm).

[0023]Length of petiole.—Short.(7.0 mm).

[0024] Flower:

[0025]Inflorescence peduncles.—Axillary.

[0026]Flower form.—Globose.

[0027]Flower length.—Medium to long. (35 mm).

[0028]Flower width.—Medium to wide. (30 mm).

[0029]Length of tubular.—Medium. (33 mm).

[0030]Color of floral tube.—R.H.S. N80A.

[0031]Color of petal.—R.H.S. 69D/N80A.

[0032]Yellow brotches of the petal.—Absent.

[0033]Vertical line of the petal.—Present.

[0034]Wave of upper bilabiate petal.—Strong.

[0035]Calyx shape.—Shallowly five lobed.

[0036]Calyx;Degree of development of wings.—Medium.

[0037]Calyx length.—Medium. (18 mm).

[0038]Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.—Medium.

[0039]Anthocyanin pigmentation of anther.—Light.

[0040]Anther spur.—Absent.

[0041]Peduncle thickness.—Thick. (1.5 mm).

[0042]Peduncle length.—Short. (20 mm).

[0043]Spike existence.—Absent.

[0044]Spike; number of flower.—Few.

[0045]Flowering duration.—Medium.

[0046] Physiological and ecological characteristics: Medium resistanceto diseases and pests, strong tolerance to heat, and medium tolerance tocold.

[0047] This new variety ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ of torenia plant is mostsuitable for flower bedding and potting, particularly in hanging pots orplanters.

[0048] This new and distinct variety of Torenia plant,‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’, was asexually reproduced by cutting ataforementioned Omi R&D Center, Suntory Flowers Ltd., and the homogeneityand stability thereof were confirmed.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETY

[0049] The new variety of torenia plant ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is differfrom a parent variety, ‘SUNRENIPIHO’ in following points,

[0050] 1. The petal color of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is pale purplish pink(R.H.S. No. 69D, J.H.S. No. 9501) in upper petal, and vivid purplish red(R.H.S. No. 80A, J.H.S. No. 8906) in bilabiate petal as against those of‘SUNRENIPIHO’ is purplish white (R.H.S. No. 76D, J.H.S. No. 9201), andvivid purple (R.H.S. No. 81A, J.H.S. No. 8606).

[0051] 2. The flower of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is larger than that of‘SUNRENIPIHO’.

[0052] 3. The peduncle length of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is shorter thanthat of ‘SUNRENIPIHO’.

[0053] 4. The diameter of flower of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is wider thanthat of ‘SUNRENIPIHO’.

[0054] 5. The stem diameter of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is wider than that of‘SUNRENIPIHO’.

[0055] 6. The anthocyanin pigmentation of stem of

[0056] ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ are medium as against these of ‘SUNRENIPIHO’are dark.

[0057] 7. The degree of leaf serration of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is acuteas against these of ‘SUNRENIPIHO’ is medium.

[0058] The new variety of Torenia plant ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is differfrom a similar variety, ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’ in following points,

[0059] 1. The petal color of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is pale purplish pink(R.H.S. No. 69D, J.H.S. No. 9501) in upper petal, and vivid purplish red(R.H.S. No. 80A, J.H.S. No. 8906) color and pale purplish pink (R.H.S.No. 69D, J.H.S. No. 9501) center in bottom of bilabiate petal as againstthose of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’ is pinkish white (R.H.S.No. 76D, J.H.S.No.9701), and pinkish white (R.H.S.No. 76D, J.H.S.No. 9701).

[0060] 2. The diameter of flower of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is narrower thanthat of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’.

[0061] 3. The peduncle length of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is shorter thanthat of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’.

[0062] 4. The anthocyanin pigmentation of stem of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’are medium as against these of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’ are dark.

[0063] 5. The degree of leaf serration of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is acuteas against that of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’ is medium.

[0064] 6. Flowering time of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is earlier than that of‘SUNRENILAPIHO’.

[0065] 7. The degree of heat tolerance of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO-KAI’ is strongas against that of ‘SUNRENILAPIHO’ is medium.

1. The new and distinct variety of Torenia plant, substantially asherein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as tonovelty by (A) being a semi-ducumbent and medium branching (B) havinglarge flowers and great profusion of blooms and the whole bush remainingin bloom for considerable period of time, (C) flower petals are palepurplish pink upper petal, vivid purplish red side of bilabiate petal,and vivid purplish red color and pale purplish pink center bottom ofbilabiate petal without yellow blotches, (D) having a high resistance toheat, moderate resistance to diseases and pests and weak cold hardiness,(E) growing and having flowers ordinarily in the shade of tree.